Thread-finger mechanism.



H. A. BALLARD.

THREAD FINGER MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED 822139, 1908. RENEWED JAN. 16. 1914.

1,09 1,421, I Patented Mar. 24, 1914 Wide aZZarw? ZZQW WTED snares Pi -it HABRIE A. BALLAR-D, 0E BOSTON.

TION 0F NEW JERSEY.-

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE BOYLSTO'N MANUFACTURING COEVPPANY, 01 SOUTH BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS A CQ'PIIOBA- THREAD-FINGER MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 24 1914.

Application filed September 29. 1908. Serial No. 455,332. Renewed January 16, 1914. Serial No. 812,570.

To all 2071 0111 it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Hanan: A. BALLAHD,

a citizen of the United States. residing at 1 Boston, in the county of Suttolk and State ot.Massachusetts, hare invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thread-Finger Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shoe sewing machines and particularly to the stitch form ing mechanism.

It has for its object to provide for a machine of this type a thread finger of simple construction, together with improved means for mounting and actuating the same.

The function of the so-called thread finger is to engage the needle thread nea'r the needle and draw oii a certain quantity of thread from the supply prior to being drawn through the work. The thread finger is so actuated as to first draw the thread stated and to give oti' the thread so drawn at the instant when the needle draws back through the work. In other words it measures oit' sutiicient thread for each stitch and delivers it to the needle at a time when the supply thread is locked at another point.

One of the objects of the invention consists in forming the thread linger of a sub stantially straight rod having a hook at one end.

Another object is to mount the rod so as to leave it accessible for adjustment or re moral, and so as to reduce to a minimum the friction of its engagement with its support or guide.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a vertical section of aportion ot a shoe sewingmachine ii'icluding thethread finger mechanism. Fig. 2 represents parts of the stitch. forming mechanism in another position. Fig. 3 represents a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents a section on line 4c-i of 1. Fig. 5 represents a section on line 55 of Fig. 4.

i prm'ided with an oscillatory needle carrier 11. mounted upon a stud 1E2. 13 represents a main power shaft mounted in bearings in the head, and by which the several instrumentalitics may be actuated, the means for oscillating the carrier 11 not being shown.

represents eurvcd needle mounted in the carrier 11 and provided with a hook or barb 15 which is adapted to draw the threiid a upwardly through a shoe sole Z) clamped between a work rest 16 and presser foot 17.

The needle thi' ad u is drawn from a con renicnt source through a thread lock 18 and over take-up rolls 1?) of any desired con struction. Between the takearp and the needle. the thread passes through a looper 20. and after being drawn thrtnigh the work it is in position. to. be taken by a shuttle 21 and interlocked in the usual we; with a shuttle thread. U

The several instrmnentalities hercinbeitore mentioned are incidental to, butforni no part oi, the present invention.

The invention is embodied in a thread finger 25 which has the form of a hook on an otlset end of a round rod 26. The thread finger is adapted to engage the needle thread a between the looper 20 and the needle 14 as hereinafter explained. The rod 26 is mounted intwo members 27 and 28 which are respectively HlOVzrblO and stationary. The latter in the form of a stud and is to turn on its own axis. The rod on extends through and adapted to slide in the stud The moralde'niemhcr stint through which the rod also 'i'xiililh, and to which it is adjustahly clam wd by means ot a sleeve 29 and nut 30 threaded on the stud. 'lhe stud and sleerc extend through a slot 3i in the ifrume and through the free end of an actuator or lever 32 in which they are loosely confined by the said nut and a shoulder 33 on the sleeve. The lever fnlcrumed at 34- and has at its other end .1 :am roll 3:) which occupies a cam groove 36. in a disk 37 mounted upon the power shal't- The rod 26 is reciprocated in the stud 28 of the actuator and its irregularity of movement. due to the circular path of the -stud 27 is neutralized by the revoluble propert-y of the stud 28. The simplicity of this mounted on the frame 10 so as to be adapted by means means of mounting the thread finger, and the consequent freedom and smoothness of movement will be apparent.

The function of the thread finger, though not a part of the present invention, may be briefly stated as follows. Prior to insertion oftheneedle in the work, the thread finger thread is locked again at 18.

' occupies its forward position near the Work as shown in Fig. 1. When the needle is passed through the work to the position shown in Fig. 2, the thread is released by the locking device at- 18 and the 1 thread finger is moved quickly to the rear, which position is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

vices 19, and the other side by the now ad yancing thread finger.

The thread finger may be. adjusted fori 1 needle thread between the barb of the needle wardly or backwarclly by bodily movement of the rod 26, and may be ad usted laterally by turning the rod about its own axis, a

single nut 30 serving to set the-clamping members for any position of the rod. A distinct advantage of so ctmstructlng the thread finger is that should the thread hook become Worn or broken that end of the rod may be again bent so as to form a new hook. v

and this may be repeated so lon as there is sufiicient surplus in the'length oi the rod.

Having'thus explained the nature of my said invention and described a way of constructing and using the same although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all ot the modes of its use, I declare that What I claim is 1. The combination with a shoe sewing to clamp said rod at various points.

In a shoe sewing machine. the combination with a barbed needle, of an oscillatory arm, a pivot member supported and carried by saiderm, a relatively stationary member, a rod said pivot member and having sliding engagement witlrsaid stationary member, one end of said rod being bent to form a hook and adapted to engage the needle thread between the barb of the needle and the Work, rod being adapted to move longitudinally to draw the thread laterally and means for clamping said rod tosaid at member.

3. in a shoe'scwing machine, the combination th barbed needle, of a bearing memher, a rod bent at one end to form a hook,

1d hooked end being adapted to hook the signature, in presence of two witnesses.

. l1 it'lll lllil A. BALLARD.

fld itncsses 1 CHARLES Wu RICILUIDS, Brianna M. ll oooeonr. i 

